Rotatable sucker pipe suspension



Sept. 29, 1959 H. K. BEEBE 2,905,384

RQTATABLE SUCKER PIPE SUSPENSION Filed Jan. 51, 1958 INVENTOR.

Hmzvv K. BEEBE BY :E

A'rrczN EYS United States Patent 1 2,906,384 7 ROTATABLE SUCKER PIPESUSPENSION Harvey Kemp Beebe, Higley, Application January 31, 1958,Serial N0. 712,516

3 Claims. l. 193-30 manipulated as required, and avoiding interferencebetween any of the parts associated with the supporting structure forthe suction conduit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rotatableand vertically adjustable supporting means-for a suction pipe employedin conveying material, the supporting means involving inexpensivecomponents, being durable in construction, and being easy to adjust, asrequired.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a suction pipe for conveyingcotton or similarr fibrous, relatively light material, provided withsupporting means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly incross section, of the bearing structure for rotatably supporting thesuction conduit of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 33 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a portionof the circular cage member employed to maintain the bearing balls ofthe assembly of Figures 1 to 4 in spaced relationship.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates a material handling conduitwhich is employed to convey relatively light material, such as cotton,or the like by suction from a vehicle upwardly to a fixed intake conduitshown at 12. Thus, the conduit 12 is telescopically received in thesuction conduit 11, the suction conduit 11 being slidable and rotatablerelative to the fixed suction conduit 12, so that material entering thebottom end of the suction conduit 11 will be guided to the fixed intakeconduit 12. Therefore, means must be provided to rotatably and slidablysupport the suction conduit 11 relative to the fixed conduit 12. As willbe well understood, the suction conduit 11 must be verticallyadjustable, in accordance with different levels of material in thevehicle to be emptied.

In accordance with the present invention, suspension means is providedfor the conduit 11, said suspension means comprising a first circularring member 13 which is horizontally disposed and which surrounds thetop portion of the suction conduit 11. The horizontal ring 13 is formedat diametrically opposite locations thereon with respective pairs ofoutwardly extending lugs 14, 14 and 15, 15 to which are secured the endportions of respeci 2,906,384 Patented Sept." 29, w 959 tive loops 16and 17, which may comprise U-shaped rod members. Connected to therespective loops 16 and 17 are respective flexible cables 18 and 19.Cable 18 extends over a first pulley 20 secured in any suitable mannerto the ceiling 21 adjacent the flaring top end portion of the conduit12, as shown in Figure l, and extends over a second pulley 23 mounted onthe wall of the build ing. A counter-weight 24 is connected to the end.of the cable 18. Similarly, the cable 19 extends over a first pulley 25fastened to the ceiling 21 diametrically opposite the pulley 20 relativeto the top end of conduit '12, and extends over a second pulley 26fastened to the wall adjacent to the pulley 23, as shown. A secondcounterweight 27 is connected to the end of the cable 19. Y

Secured to the top end of the conduit member 11 is a band 28 and securedbetween said band 28 and the conduit 11 is a sleeve member 29.Designated, at 30 isa flange which is fastened to the sleeve member 29by a plurality of upstanding lug members 31 rigidly secured to the innerperiphery of the flange 30 and in turn secured to the sleeve 29 byrivets 32, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the flange 30 is secured to thetop portion of the conduit member 11 in overlying relationship to thering 13. Ring 13 is formed with the circular guide groove 33 which facesupwardly, and flange 30 is formed with the circular guide groove 34which faces downwardly and which overlies and opposes the guide groove33.

Designated at 35 is a circular cage member comprising circular guiderings 36 connected by arcuate rod element 37, the guide rings 36containing bearing balls 38. The cage member 35 is disposed between thegrooves 33 and 34 with the bearing balls 38 received in the opposinggrooves and thus acting as anti-friction bearing means between theflange 30 and the circular ring member 13.

As will be readily apparent, the lower conduit member 11 is thusrotatably supported on the horizontal ring member 13, and is verticallymovable relative to the fixed suction conduit 12 in an axial direction.The weight of the conduit member 11 is substantially counterbalanced bythe counter-weights 24 and 27, whereby the conduit member 11 may beeasily raised or lowered, as well as rotated, as required, in accordancewith the level of the material to be emptied upwardly into the fixed C0nduit 12.

Since the conduit 11 is freely rotatable with respect to the supportingring 13, no interference between the various members of the suspensionassembly can occur, and the conduit 11 may be easily manipulated by asingle operator.

While a specific embodiment of an improved suspension means for asuction conduit for handling material has been disclosed in theforegoing description, it will be understood that various modificationswithin the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in theart. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on theinvention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a material handling system including a vertical material handlingconduit, means supporting said conduit for vertical movement and forrotation around a vertical axis comprising a first horizontal circularring member surrounding said conduit, said ring member being formed witha guide groove concentric therewith, vertically yieldable meansconnected to said ring member and supporting same in a horizontalposition, outwardly projecting horizontal flange means on said conduitoverlying said ring member, a circular cage member disposed between saidflange means and said ring member and overlying said guide groove, saidcircular cage member comprising a plurality of spaced circular guiderings and arcuate rod elements connecting said guide rings, and

respective bearing balls rotatably mounted in said guide rings andengaging in said guide groove.

2. In a material handling system including a vertical material handlingconduit, means supporting said conduit for vertical movement and forrotation around a vertical axis comprising a first horizontal circularring member surrounding said conduit, vertically yieldable meansconnected to said ring member and supporting same in a horizontalposition, an outwardly projecting horizontal flange on said conduitoverlying said ring member, a circular cage member disposed between saidflange and said ring member, said circular cage member comprising aplurality of spaced circular guide rings and arcuate rod elementsconnecting said guide rings, said flange and ring member being formedwith opposing circular guide grooves, and respective bearing ballsrotatably mounted in said guide rings and engaging in said guidegrooves.

3. In a material handling-system including a vertical material handlingconduit, means supporting said conduit for vertical movement and forrotation around a vertical axis comprising a first circular horizontalring member surrounding said conduit, a pair of supporting cables,pulley means supporting said cables, respective counterweights securedto said cables, means connecting said cables to diametrically oppositeportions of said ring member, whereby to yieldably support said ringmember substantially in a horizontal position, an outwardly projectinghorizontal flange on said conduit overlying said ring member, a circularcage member disposed between said flange and said ring member, saidcircular cage member comprising a plurality of spaced circular guiderings and arcuate rod elements connecting said guide rings, said flangeand ring member being formed with opposing circular guide grooves, andrespective bearing balls rotatably mounted in said guide rings andengaging in said guide grooves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS502,194 Johnston July 25, 1893 512,394 Robinson Jan. 9, 1894 2,566,421Lapointe .t Sept. 4, 1951

